Usec finalizes American Centrifuge machine design
Usec announced on 17 April that it has finalized the initial design for its American Centrifuge uranium enrichment machines. The AC100 machine is designed to produce 350 SWU per year. Usec said that 75% of the drawings of the AC100 have been released to its strategic suppliers to begin manufacturing components. The remaining drawings will be released by the end of June, following additional component validation tests. The strategic suppliers will now begin manufacturing parts for the 40 to 50 AC100 machines that will be installed in the next operating cascade in Piketon, Ohio, which is expected to be operational in early 2009. John Welch, president and CEO of Usec, said: "Although we are still very much in the midst of working with our strategic suppliers to control costs, based on what we've seen to date, we continue to expect the cost of the [American Centrifuge Plant (ACP)] to be about $3.5 billion." He added, "We believe the key to success is to construct the plant in the most cost-effective manner, to balance and mitigate risks, and to have flexibility in our schedule to account for the timing and availability of debt financing." Welch said, "We are also reviewing our financing plans for the plant in light of current credit market conditions and the anticipated timing of any loan guarantees from the US Department of Energy."
Usec announced on 17 April that it has finalized the initial design for its American Centrifuge uranium enrichment machines. The AC100 machine is designed to produce 350 SWU per year. Usec said that 75% of the drawings of the AC100 have been released to its strategic suppliers to begin manufacturing components. The remaining drawings will be released by the end of June, following additional component validation tests. The strategic suppliers will now begin manufacturing parts for the 40 to 50 AC100 machines that will be installed in the next operating cascade in Piketon, Ohio, which is expected to be operational in early 2009. John Welch, president and CEO of Usec, said: "Although we are still very much in the midst of working with our strategic suppliers to control costs, based on what we've seen to date, we continue to expect the cost of the [American Centrifuge Plant (ACP)] to be about $3.5 billion." He added, "We believe the key to success is to construct the plant in the most cost-effective manner, to balance and mitigate risks, and to have flexibility in our schedule to account for the timing and availability of debt financing." Welch said, "We are also reviewing our financing plans for the plant in light of current credit market conditions and the anticipated timing of any loan guarantees from the US Department of Energy."
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